Istanbul

On the banks of the Bosphorus lies the ancient city of Istanbul. The city itself is quite unique in the respect that it is the only city in the world that shares two continents, Europe and Asia, a direct link between East and West. Formally Constantinople, the Byzantine capital has a cocktail of palaces, mosques, bazaars, domes and museums and along with modern hotels, apartments and offices that strangely punctuate the skyline. ‘The mix’ is varied, interesting and almost bizarre.

Let Istanbul take you under its spell, magical, mystical and moody! A visit to Istanbul would not be complete without a trip to The Blue Mosque, with its six minarets completed in the 17th Century with over twenty thousand ceramic tiles. The Topkapi Palace and The Mosque Suleiman are also must-sees. For the bargain hunters amongst you, a little haggling can take you a long way in the Grand Bazaar. Also try the Spice Bazaar for fashion goods.

Transfers & Travel Tips

From the airport to the city centre the best way is by taxi. Cost being approximately £20 per journey. The journey time is circa forty minutes. Most Turkish museums are open daily except mondays, whilst Palaces are open daily except monday and tuesday. Please note however that the Topkapi Palace Museum is closed on Tuesday. For the photographers among you a small fee is payable locally in both Palaces and museums and you should pay this upon entrance.